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Celebrating 23 Award Categories Within Social Care

Please see the categories which you may choose for a nomination below by clicking each one for more information. If you are entering more than one category, separate entry forms must be completed via the online nomination page.

This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate employers’ commitment to care and how this is achieving success in delivering an excellent service. Employers should be able to demonstrate considerable acumen and entrepreneurial flair whilst at the same time having a sustained track record of delivering high quality care and managing improvement.

Is able to demonstrate substantial strengths and has a sustained track record of delivering good quality care and managing improvement.

Can demonstrate examples of leadership best practice: supervision and appraisal systems, continuing professional development, qualifications and achievements, creating a learning environment. Can show an effective workforce development plan.

Demonstrates a willingness to change to meet the new social care priorities.

Demonstrates a commitment to learning and development activities.

Demonstrates the ability to change to meet the new social care priorities.

Demonstrates good practice in person centred care and support.

Demonstrates a commitment to dignity and privacy for clients.

Is able to demonstrate how clients and/or relatives/carers participate in the development of service.

Examples of how clients have benefited/ Can show satisfaction of clients.

This award recognises the significant role of the Care Home Worker in consistently providing a high quality standard, for people living in residential care. Evidence of dedication, awareness of colleagues and career development through training will be important elements for the judges.

Gives an excellent service to residents

Understands and demonstrates treating each person as an individual by giving a personalised service

Helps people to be more independent wherever possible

Respects people’s right to privacy and dignity (example)

Involves residents and their relatives/carers in the development of their care

Has examples of putting in extra effort for residents – ‘going the extra mile’

Is aware of personal development, and looks for opportunities to absorb knowledge and skills. For example: training courses of all types, reading guidance and good practice guides, using toolkits, shadowing, attending workshops and study days, using e-learning.

Uses initiative (example)

Adaptability, alertness and responsiveness to the people they care for will be looked for by the judges.

This award recognises the significant role of the Home Care Worker in consistently providing a high quality standard, for people living in their own homes. Evidence of dedication, awareness of colleagues and career development through training will be important elements for the judges. This category is also open to Personal Assistants.

Allows the person to make their own decisions and stay in control of their own lives

Encourages independence

Gives an excellent and dignified service to clients

Understands and demonstrates treating each person as an individual by giving a personalised service

Helps people to be more independent wherever possible

Respects people’s right to privacy (example)

Involves clients and their relatives/carers in the development of their care (if agreed by the client)

Has examples of putting in extra effort for clients – ‘going the extra mile’

Is aware of personal development, and looks for opportunities to absorb knowledge and skills. For example: mandatory training, specialist training courses of all types, reading guidance and good practice guides, using toolkits, shadowing, attending workshops and study days, using e-learning.

Uses initiative

Adaptability, alertness and responsiveness to the people they care for will be looked for by the judges

This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate a new member of staff who has commenced and remained in employment in the care sector since January 2016 The individual can either be returning to the sector after at least two years away or be joining for the first time.

Is able to demonstrate if they were able to transfer existing skills to their new career (either from volunteering, life skills or previous job)

Show a good understanding of the role they now have

Demonstrate by examples their understanding of the word “Care” and demonstrate excellent people skills

Is able to explain what is meant by good practice in their chosen role

Is aware of a range of choices users of services may have.

Empathy and responsiveness, especially in emotional situations, will be looked for by the judges

Willingness and determination to take up opportunities to improve knowledge in a range of settings

This award will be given to the Registered Care Home Manager who has demonstrated a high level of expertise together with exceptional skills in managing the complex business of running a care home. A Manager who shows vision in developing person centred care and supporting staff to meet the ever changing needs of the residents.

Can show how the service is “Well Led”

Is able to demonstrate a high level of expertise together with exceptional skills in the complex business of managing a care home.

A manager who demonstrates the ability to change to meet the new social care priorities – can say how they have improved the care

Demonstrates their commitment to good practice in person centred care and support

Demonstrates a commitment to dignity and privacy for clients

Is able to demonstrate how clients and/or relatives/carers participate in the development of service

Examples of how client(s) have benefited

Can show satisfaction of clients

Demonstrates a commitment to learning and development activities. Can give an example(s) of staff development

Can give an example(s) of leadership best practice: induction; supervision and appraisal systems; continuing professional development; qualifications and achievements. Can say how they have improved these or why they work well

This award recognises the ‘whole home approach’ to food and nutrition issues within the care home, providing recognition to the catering and care staff and nutrition-related activities in the home e.g. staff training / awareness sessions, linking to residents activities, water provision, the use of local produce. The winner will be the person or unit that can demonstrate-

Providing a worthwhile Mealtime experience.

Provision of a wide and varied menu, especially for those who need special menus

Enhanced quality of life.

Provision and promotion of healthy food choices.

Maintenance of good standards of hygiene and environmental health.

Contribution towards a sustainable environment.

Adherence to CQC’s Outcome 5 Meeting Nutritional Needs

Evidence will be provided in the form of menus, training plans, copies of delivery notes/ receipts, photographs and supporting statements indicating the initiatives that have taken place to improve and enhance the mealtime experience

This award will be given to an individual who can reflect the specific skills needed to manage and deliver services sensitive to the needs of older people with dementia, and which reflects an awareness of the provider organization that investment in this type of service provision will meet increasing demand in the future.

Demonstrates an understanding of the term Dementia

Understands and demonstrates treating each person as an individual by giving a personalised service

Explains how you help a person continue to make the best use of their skills and abilities (encouragement, reassuring routine, common sense)

This award will be presented to the team who are able to best demonstrate a shared vision and agreed goals. The team should have a leader whose role is known and accepted and who takes personal responsibility for their tasks. Teams should have an excellent communication process and each member’s skills should be recognised within the team. Demonstrating a commitment to dignity and privacy for clients and also respect for team members is paramount.

The team should be able to demonstrate they are ‘Well-led’

The best team should be able to demonstrate a shared vision and agreed goals

Has a team leader whose role is known and accepted

Team members who are clear on what their role is, and who take personal responsibility for their tasks

Team has good communications processes – which work

Team can demonstrate co-operation, mutual support and trust

Skills are recognised within the team

The team understands the importance of a high level of morale

Can demonstrate good practice in person centred care and support

Can demonstrate a commitment to dignity and privacy for clients – also respect for team members

Is able to demonstrate how clients and/or relatives/carers participate in the development of service

Each member is aware of their own personal development, and looks for opportunities to absorb knowledge and skills which will benefit performance of the team in giving excellent service to clients. For example: training courses of all types, reading guidance and good practice guides, using toolkits, shadowing, attending workshops and study days, using e-learning, sharing best practice.

This award will be given to The Care Home Activity Organiser who has demonstrated they can provide a ‘needs led’, varied and appropriate programme for care home residents. Organisers who show exceptional skills, creativity and responsibilities in arranging activities either alone or in conjunction with a senior.

Is able to provide and give examples of an exceptional range of services

Understands individuals needs for different activities and explains why this is

Explain where they source their knowledge and training from and why e.g. Alzheimers Society, Stroke Society, Deaf/Blind etc.

Is able to demonstrate how clients and/or relatives/carers participate in the development of new activities

Is aware of how to motivate people

Inclusion for people with a range of mental and physical disabilities (E.g. music)

Gives examples of how they have succeeded where others have not

Is innovative and passionate about their role and how they have achieved change

This award will recognise an excellent, person centred service to clients,demonstrating dignity and respect through ancillary services, (for example, cooks, handy persons, cleaners and activity co-ordinators).Candidates should be able to provide examples of initiatives and excellence in their work and pride themselves on outstanding client feedback.

This award will acknowledge the importance of the role of the Trainer within the care service and looks for a person who has shown incredible enthusiasm and determination in identifying training and development needs of care staff, establishing rolling training programmes, searching for and gaining funding and proving their ability to enthuse and energise staff to attend and request training.

This award will recognise the person who has shown exceptional entrepreneurial skills in identifying, developing, implementing and establishing a new service; or a new administrative system; or the launch of a new product. This new innovation must demonstrate benefits for staff, the business and users of the service.

This award will be given to a person who is a supervisor, senior care worker, team leader or a first time manager and has shown clear commitment to improving the delivery of care and support within their team. A person who has shown leadership qualities by reflecting on what could be better and supporting others to bring about change.

This award will be given to the Home Care Coordinator who can demonstrate to the judges their knowledge and skill in utilising their care team in an effective and efficient way. This person will demonstrate vision in motivating and supporting staff whilst ensuring the clients remains at the heart of the service.

Show why it is important to offer the clients continuity of care

Demonstrate that the way they coordinate is also cost effective for the company

Demonstrate how they offer staff that are trained to meet the individual needs of a vulnerable person

Show how they support lone workers

Show how they keep up with technology, and the requirements of the regulators.

This award seeks to recognise a team who have embraced the ‘Putting People First’/Personalisation agenda and can demonstrate an innovative approach to empowering people to have more control over the support they need in their lives. Please note that a maximum of three people may represent the team at the judging day

This award will recognise an individual or a team providing person centered services to vulnerable people living in any kind of supported housing scheme. The individual or team will need to demonstrate that they are meeting a range of complex care and support needs, including interacting with the local community, be outcome focused and driven to provide the highest quality service to individuals, supporting them to remain independent in their own home and as part of the wider community.

This award acknowledges the important role that specialist nurses working in the Care Sector have in promoting the emotional, physical, psychological and social health of the people who they support. The individual should be able to demonstrate how nursing skills integrate with social care.

This award will be given to the person who demonstrates how special and professional they have to be to be able to support someone who is at the end of their life. They should be able to explain the training they have had to take on this role and how important dignity and respect is at this time. They should also explain how they can support the family and friends during this difficult time.

This award will be for the person who can demonstrate how important individual Initial Assessments, followed by agreed Care Plans, showing the individuals needs and choices of each individual is. They should also be able to demonstrate how they work with others in the team to ensure the client is satisfied with the services provided. They must then go on to explain the purposed of regular reviews and continuity of staff.

The Unpaid Carer Award will be given to an unpaid carer or former carer who, in the opinion of the judges, can demonstrate commitment and perseverance in helping to bring about better recognition and support for carers. It seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication that carers show to their local community or society or the difference they have made to the life of a vulnerable person they are caring for.

The award is open to all without any upper or lower age limit. The person must have been helped bring about change in the last 18 months, be unpaid and receive no financial reward. The individual should be able to demonstrate that they have had a significant positive impact on the lives of a vulnerable person, other unpaid carers and/or that they have gone the extra mile.